Jun 22, 1897
The balcony is completed at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, future home of the Grand Ole Opry. The extra level of seats is installed to accommodate an upcoming convention of Civil War veterans and is dubbed the Confederate Gallery
Jun 22, 1930
Roy Drusky is born in Atlanta, Georgia. He joins the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 before notching more than a dozen smooth-voiced hits. He also writes several Faron Young successes, including “Alone With You” and “Country Girl”
Jun 22, 1936
Kris Kristofferson is born in Brownsville, Texas. He records the 1973 hit “Why Me,” becomes a member of The Highwaymen, appears in numerous movies and writes such classics as “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “For The Good Times,” landing in the Country Music Hall of Fame
Jun 22, 1944
Peter Asher is born in London. After forming one-half of the 1960s pop duo Peter & Gordon, he produces the bulk of Linda Ronstadt’s country hits, including “Blue Bayou,” “When Will I Be Loved” and “Love Is A Rose”
Jun 22, 1944
Marine Ferlin Husky is among the American troops who take part in the invasion of Cherbourg, France, during World War II
Jun 22, 1951
MGM releases Hank Williams’ “Hey, Good Lookin"”
Jun 22, 1957
“The Jimmy Dean Show” makes its prime-time debut on CBS-TV 11 weeks after the network first started airing it as a six days-a-week daytime program
Jun 22, 1959
Decca releases Webb Pierce’s “I Ain’t Never”
Jun 22, 1965
Bill Phillips records “Put It Off Until Tomorrow” with Dolly Parton providing harmonies
Jun 22, 1968
Conway Twitty records “Next In Line” at the Columbia Studios in Nashville
Jun 22, 1974
Waylon Jennings commands his first #1 single in Billboard with “This Time”
Jun 22, 1979
Waylon Jennings records “Come With Me” and adds to “I Ain’t Living Long Like This,” two days after he started it, in Nashville’s American Studios
Jun 22, 1979
Warner/Curb releases The Bellamy Brothers’ album “The Two And Only”
Jun 22, 1981
Merle Haggard records “Going Where The Lonely Go” at Britannia Studios, owned by Tom Jones, in Los Angeles
Jun 22, 1991
Garth Brooks and “The Thunder Rolls” take up the #1 position on the Billboard country singles chart
Jun 22, 1993
BNA Records releases John Anderson’s “Solid Ground” album (3 Top 5s, 1 #1, Gold)
Jun 22, 1993
Giant Records releases Carlene Carter’s “Little Love Letters” album (1 Top 5)
Jun 22, 1993
MCA releases Mark Chesnutt’s “Almost Goodbye” album (3 #1s, Platinum)
Jun 22, 1993
Mercury releases Billy Ray Cyrus’ “It Won’t Be The Last” album (Follow-up to debut, 2 Top 10s, Platinum)
Jun 22, 1993
Jett Williams settles out of court with Roy Acuff’s estate over royalties from the songs of Hank Williams. She discovered as an adult that she was Williams’ daughter and engaged in an eight-year series of court battles
Jun 22, 1996
With echoes of Bob Dylan and Hank Williams in the production and lyrics, Tracy Lawrence begins a three-week run at #1 in Billboard with “Time Marches On”
Jun 22, 1999
Asylum releases “Cold Hard Truth,” the album George Jones was recording at the time of his near-fatal car accident in March
Jun 22, 2002
George Strait realizes a #1 single in Billboard with “Living And Living Well”
Jun 22, 2011
Glen Campbell reveals in People magazine that he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Despite the issues it poses in remembering lyrics, he intends to launch a farewell concert tour in the fall
